Duke Blue Devils Cut Down the Nets in March Madness Pet Name Competition

Brea, Calif. (March 18, 2013) – In 2011, pet lovers rejoiced when the NCAA basketball championship game featured the Huskies (Connecticut) vs. Bulldogs (Butler). Will this year’s road to the Final Four feature a pet-themed squad that is able to break through the fanatic frenzy of March Madness? Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, analyzed its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to find which March Madness teams have the pet power it takes to cut down the nets on April 8 in Atlanta.

Below is a list of the most popular pet names based on the teams in the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and VPI’s database of 485,000 insured pets (total number of pets sharing that name in parenthesis):

There are also three pets named Izzo (Michigan State head coach), one named Pitino (Louisville head coach), 10 pets named Bucket, eight named Hoops, five named Rebound and two named Swish.

Best of BreedThe 2013 tourney field is partial to a variety of pets, with several breeds filling out the field.

It will be a dog day afternoon at many tournament sites, featuring these pooch inspired mascots:

Bulldogs – (2) Gonzaga, Butler

Great Danes – Albany

Cats litter the March Madness brackets in force, including:

Wildcats – (4) Arizona, Davidson, Kansas State, Villanova

Bearcats – Cincinnati

Even exotic pets have punched their tickets to this year’s Big Dance:

Ducks – Oregon

Jackrabbits – South Dakota St.

Which team will cut down the nets April 8 in Atlanta?

Based on the data above, the 2013 pet inspired March Madness winner will be the Duke Blue Devils! In fact, the name “Duke” ranks 40th on VPI’s list of most popular pet names, which encompasses nearly 70,000 pet monikers.

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

With more than 485,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency (VPI) is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies and is the oldest and largest pet health insurance company in the United States. Since 1982, VPI has helped provide pet owners with peace of mind and is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers.

VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. CareGuard® coverage for routine care is available for an additional premium. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, one in three Fortune 500 companies offers VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are offered and administered by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and DVM Insurance Agency in all other states. Underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Brea, CA, an A.M. Best A rated company (2012); National Casualty Company (all other states), Madison, WI, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2012). Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.